Car-axle box



(No Model.)

0. DECKER.

CAR AXLE BOX.

No. 325,593. 1 Patent ed Sept; 1, 1885.

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NITED STATES PATENT tr es.

CORNELIUS DECKER, OF PULLMAN, ILLINOIS.

CAR-AXLE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,593, dated September 1, 185 5.

Application filed February 1), 1585 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, GORNELIUs DECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Pollman, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Car-Axle Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in car-axle boxes of two distinct classes, in one of which a sliding cover is employed, and in the other the cover is swung upon a fixed pivot to close and unclose the opening to the box.

Oar-axle boxes having sliding covers have been provided with lateral flanges or beads overlapped by corresponding flanges 011 the cover, which latter flanges serve to secure the cover to the box and exclude foreign substances from entering the flanged sides of the box when the cover is closed. Such covers, however, are objectionable, because when the cover is elevated to open the box gravity tends to cause the cover to descend and close the box at a time when it is desirable that it should be open. This objection is avoided by the employment of pivoted covers, which, in opening the box, are swung to a position causing their center of gravity to be outside of the pivotbearing of the cover, which boxes have had in one instance curved grooves, V- shaped in cross-section, in the side walls, and the inner edge of their bottom wall beveled to form a seat for a pivoted cover correspondingly grooved and beveled; but it is obvious that by such a construction dust can pass through the end of the groove and the open joint at the top of and enter the box, and, at best, the necessary curvature of the box'opening correspondingly contracts it. Othershave had a pivoted cover engaging an overlapping flange at one side only of the box, thereby leaving three of its sides with open joints, and rendering the box even more objectionable than the structure first above described.

The objects of this invention are to provide for such a connection between the box and cover as will combine in a single box the advantages common to both a pivoted and sliding cover and at the same time, and while excluding dust from the box prevent the escape of the lubricant when the box is closed. I

(No model.)

attain these objects by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation of a car-axle box embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a top plan view of the same partly in section; Fig. 3, a central longitudinal sect-ion of the same; Fig. 4, a front elevation of the same with the cover swung upwardly and out wardly on its pivot, and exposing the opening to the box.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same part in the several figures of the drawings.

A indicates a car-axle box, which, in general construction, is of the ordinary form, and B the cover connected with the box by means of a pivot, a, passing through the lower righthand corner of the cover, and through a lug, b, extending laterally of the box. Box A on its top and side edges is provided with lateral flanges, the top flange, c, of which has a straight edge parallel with the top of the box, while the side flanges, d, gradually increase in width on a curved line to their bases, the greatest curve of the line being near their top end and intersection with the top flange, 0, (see Fig. 4,) which said line gradually approaches a straight line toward the base of said side flanges.

The top and side edges of the cover are respectively provided with corresponding flanges, e f, which may be substantially U or V shaped in cross-section, and overlapping .when the cover is closed with flanges of the box.

The form of flanges may be angular, or of any other curve than that above described, without departure from the essence of my invention; but the form shown is preferred, because it may be conveniently cast with the box and requires no finishing, and because it requires a minimum amount of metal to promote close joints and a wedging of the cover on the box to a maximum degree.

While the thickness of the side flanges, (2, may be equal throughout their length, it is proposed in practice to have their thickness gradually increased from top to bottom, so as to give their edges the wedge-like form shown in Fig. 1 by breaking away the cover, the flanges of which cover in such case being of course conformed to the side flanges. By

this means the cover may wedge and be tight ened diametrically as well as laterally, as it -it by the curvature of the edges of the said I handle, 9, for convenience in opening and closing the cover.

The lower outside edge of the box is inclincd outwardly from the point h to a horizontal lip, i, and the lower edge of the cover has a corresponding angular configuration, whereby, in the act of closing the cover, it may be subjected to a pressure extending outwardly and tending to cause the overlapping flanges of the cover to bind, and thereby tighten on the flanges of the box, this tightening process, however, being limited by the horizontal seat or lip i for the cover. By these inclined faces a tight joint, preventing an escape of the lubricant, is provided along the lower edge of the opening, and a portion of the way at least up the side edges thereof, while at the same time the cover is prevented from rattling, for its gravity tends to tighten the cover when subject to jolts tending to cause it to work loose.

In order that there may be no catch-all for the lubricant dashed against the inner face of the cover, the inner edge of the box approaches a knife-edge, as shown at-j, which knife-edge serves to prevent an accumulation of oil between the cover and box at this point.

On the inner side of one of the side flanges of the box is pivoted a weighted hook-shaped catch, 70, adapted to engage with a stud, Z, (see Fig. 1,) on the cover when it is closed and seated, said catch being so weighted as to have its hook end normally swung outwardly, in position to automatically engage the stud and lock the cover when closed. Any other form of catch, however, may be employed without any essential departure from my invention.

In operation it will be observed that when the cover is swung upon its pivot to open the box the center of gravity of the cover is on a line outside of its pivot, and hence there is no liability of the cover to accidentally close itself when once swung to that position, and this feature in itself is an important consider ation in this class of devices.

Having described my invention, what I flanges the edges of which are both curved and wedge-shaped, in combination with a cover pivoted to said box, and provided with corresponding flanges overlapping and embracing said side flanges, substantially as described.

4. A car-axle box provided with lateral side flanges having curved edges, in combination with a cover provided with corresponding flanges embracing said curved edges of said side flanges, and with a pivot connecting said cover and box, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the box, the

curved side flanges thereof, and the straight top flange, ofa pivoted cover provided with corresponding side and top flanges, substantially as described.

4 6. The combination, with the cover, of the box provided with an inclined inner edge meeting the inner face of the cover, substantially as described.

7. The box provided with the inclined outer edge, h, and with side flanges, in combination with the cover provided at its lower.

inner edge with an incline opposing that of the cover, and with side flanges overlapping the flanges of the box, substantially as described.

- CORNELIUS DECKER. W'itnesses:

W. W. ELLIOTT, JNo. G. ELLIOTT, 

